Reports: Steelers sign Mitchell Trubisky as QB carousel continues to turn

The Pittsburgh Steelers have found a new quarterback.

To replace retired Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers are reportedly planning to sign former Bears and Bills quarterback Mitchell Trubisky to a two-year contract. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo was first to report the deal. The financial details of the contract have not been disclosed. 

Roethlisberger, who is unlikely to pull a Tom Brady and exit retirement, retired after the Steelers lost to the Chiefs in the AFC wild card round. Pittsburgh was reportedly interested in trading for Aaron Rodgers if the quarterback had requested a trade from Green Bay. But when Rodgers decided to stay in Green Bay, the reality for the Steelers was they’d either have to sign a free agent or go forward with Roethlisberger’s backups — Mason Rudolph and former Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins. 

So, as the available quarterbacks in the market started to dwindle, the Steelers pounced on Trubisky when the NFL’s legal tampering period began Monday. Trubisky, the second overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, spent three and a half seasons as the starter in Chicago, making the playoffs twice and amassing a 29-21 record. But his performance was unpredictable and inconsistent, as he didn’t develop much as a passer. He then spent last season as the backup to Josh Allen in Buffalo when the Bears decided to draft Justin Fields instead of sign Trubisky to an extension. 

It’s unclear if Trubisky, 27, will be handed the starting job, or if he’ll have to compete with Rudolph in training camp to earn it. 

Trubisky was once rumored to be a target of Washington this offseason, but the Commanders instead chose to trade multiple Day 2 draft picks for Colts quarterback Carson Wentz last week.